Social worker warned after pushing man down stairs

A SOCIAL worker got drunk and pushed a man down a flight of stairs, leaving him with permanent scarring to his head.

Brian Smedley was employed by North Lanarkshire Council when he went on a night out with friends in Glasgow in 2013.

After drinking too much he became involved in a fight and tried to punch a fellow party-goer, eventually pushing him down a flight of stairs.

The boozy night has now resulted in him receiving a warning, to stay on his record for two years, after he was summoned before the social services watchdog.

Mr Smedley faced one main charge at the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Hearing, which was held in Dundee earlier this month.

The charge read that on or around November 10 2013, at a nightclub in Glasgow and whilst under the influence of alcohol, he “attempted to punch AA”, “pushed AA backwards” and “pushed AA down a flight of steps resulting in both you and AA sustaining head injuries”.

It continues that “AA was left with permanent scarring to his head”.

Details of the night and the circumstances surrounding the fight were revealed, and documents from the hearing state that ‘AA’ had an altercation with one of Mr Smedley’s friends.

Mr Smedley chose to get involved, and “went to the scene of the altercation at the top of a flight of steps” where he confronted ‘AA’.

There was a “verbal exchange with AA which resulted in a physical struggle”, which was also recorded on CCTV cameras.

The SSSC panel heard evidence from a police constable, Mark Grant, who attended the incident that night.

Constable Grant’s evidence was that Mr Smedley had been trying to punch another man when they both fell down the steps at a nightclub.

He referred to CCTV evidence, which he said clearly showed him “trying to punch AA”.

Mr Smedley himself also gave evidence, which is detailed in the hearing decision notice.

The notice, which was posted online, reads: “You accepted that you had drank an unusually high quantity of alcohol.

“You accepted that your recollection was impaired because of the knock to your head and the amount of alcohol you had consumed.

“You were the aggressor and admitted in a telephone call to the council on 11 November 2013 that you thought you had hit out at AA.”

On the balance of probabilities, the panel found the charges proven and ruled that Mr Smedley be given a strict warning, which would be placed on his registration for two years.

Their reasoning dictates: “The charges are serious and had a substantial effect on the victim, leaving him with permanent disfigurement. The outcome could have been even more serious.

“Your behaviour falls well below that expected of a social care worker. Your conduct represents a serious disregard for the Code.”

They also added that they understood the incident was isolated and not deliberate, and that Mr Smedley “demonstrated timely and genuine regret”.

They also note that since the incident, there has been no repetition of the behaviour.

It is not known if Mr Smedley is currently practicing as a social worker, or where, but on the decision notice it states that his most recent town of employment was Coatbridge.